Electric socket



Feb. 7, 1928. $658583 B. D. WELLS ELECTRIC SOCKET Filed Sept. 10, 1925 Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

A BURLIN G D. WELLS, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR. TO MOLDED SOCKET i CORPORATION.

ELECTRIC SOCKET Application 1ed Septemberv 10, 1923. Serial No. 661,758.

My invention relates to electric sockets of the type composed of separable body and cap portions.

The main object of my invention is to produce an extremely simple and inexpensive socket which can be easily and conveniently made from molded insulating material.

Another object is to provide simple and reliable means for positively locking the cap and body portions of the socket against accidental separation while permitting easy separation when desired.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1 1 ot' Fig. 3 showing the completely asscmbl'ed socket.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the interior of the cap member.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the body portion with the cap removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryy section showing one form of latch member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the latch inFig. 4.

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary horizontal section of a modified latch and operating button.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing another form of latch.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 6. f

For the sake of simplicity I have illustrated my invention in connection with a shown keyless socket but I may apply it to sockets having any desired type f switch mechanism by providing suitable recesses to house such mechanism during the molding operation.

The socket consists of a cap 11 and a separate bodyr12 of molded insulating material. The cap has the usual central aperture 13 to accommodate incoming conductors which may be secured by binding screws 14 to two oppositely disposed hook shaped terminals l5 which are permanently secured within cap 11 in any desired manner.

The free extensions 16 of the contacts 15 are adapted to be rotated into interlocking engagement with two yoke shaped contacts 17 and 18 secured on opposite sides of the tace of the body portion 12. A flange 19 on the cap overlies a corresponding groove ot the body portion to provide a tight joint preventing sliding of the cap on the body. In a keyless socket of the type shown the contacts 17 and 18 are respectively held in place by screws 20 and 21, the screw 20 eX- tending through and making contact with a center contact 22 while screw 21 contacts with an end wall of the screw shell 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the cap may be connected to conductors supplying power while separate from the body of the socket and that by then placing the cap on the body and rotating it in a clockwise direction the hook contacts on the cap will interlock with the yoke contacts on the body rectlyunder one of the notches 24 when the.

cap and body are in assembled relation.

vVithin recess 25 I place a suitable spring latch to lock the parts against accidental disassembly. In its simplest form as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the latch may consist of a strip of spring metal 26 having the body portion 27 which extends from the bottom of the recess up to an aperture near the top of the body portion where it is met by a reverse bend 28 providing an operating thumb piece by which the bolt portion 29 may be pressed inwardly to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. When the latch is in this position it is clear of the notch 24 in the cap so that the latter may be readily removed from the body by counterclockwise rotation. To hold the latch 26 against accidental displacement from its recess 25 I may bend one end as at 30 to fit within a suitable depression in the side wall of the recess. I do not consider this essential, however. since the friction between the spring portions of the latch and the side walls will ordinarily suffice to prevent accidental removal of the latch when the parts are separated. Obviously the latch cannot be removed when theparts are assembled.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a springr latch 26 in which an insulating button 28 takes the place otv the reversely bent thumb piece 28 of the latch 26. The button is held in place by a flange at its inner end which is normally held against the edge of the slot by the pressure of the latch. In this construction it is absolutely impossible for one operating the latch to come lin Contact with any of the live parts of the socket. In Figs.

` to hold the parts in assembled relation. In

G and 7 I have shown a modified latch which allows the use of a considerably narrower slot in the side wall of the body portion than is possible with the previously described latches. A sheet metal cylinder 3 1 fitting within recess 25 is flattened out at the top to provide a spatula shaped bolt portion 32 whlch is normally held in notch 24 by a compression spring 33. An extension 34 preferably integral with cylinder 31 extends through the slot 35 and is bent over outside the socket to `provide Van operating thumb piece 36. Obviously the slot 35\can be made very narrow as it need only give clearance to the thin sheet metal extension 34. To release this latch the thumb port-ion 36 is moved downwardly compressing spring 33 until bolt portion 32 is withdrawn from notch 24 at which time the cap and body may be separated. Although this latch is entirely of metal it will be appalent that it is impossible for the operator to come in Contact with any live parts of the socket while operating the latch.

I claim:

1. A separable socket comprisingr insulating cap and body portions, members mounted on said portions movable to interlock the cap and body, a latch keeping notch in one of said ortions, a U-shaped spring latch detachab y mounted within the other portion and normall extending into said notch to prevent unloc ing movement of the cap and body, and means carried by the latch and extending outside the socket operable to withdraw the latch from the notch.

2. A lamp socket comprising a molded body having a screw shell in one end. and havlng a recess in the opposite end with an entrance at one side,'a cap fitting said latter end, means for interlocking said cap and body, and a U-shaped spring detachably mounted in said recess, having a handle extending through said entrance` and having a. latching end extending into engagement with said cover to prevent its rotation.'

3. A lamp socket comprising molded body and cap members` interlocking conducting members carried by the adjacent ends of the body and capL members adapted to be connected by a longitudinal and rotary movement, saidbodv member having a recess in the end adiacent the cap memberv with a sideopeninfnsaid cap member having a notch in its inner wall, and a spring pressed latch member mounted in said recess and having one end adapted 'to engage in said notch when the conducting members are interlocked, and said latch member having an operating member extending into said opening.

BURLING D. WELLS. 

